1 Apr 2011

Another week has gone by quickly. There's a huge advantage to keeping busy. We started in on cutting the first ten 500 foot rolls of tubing. Each roll has to be cut into 30 ft lengths. We need 500 all together. For those of you who are quick at math, you've already figured out that we will have to cut 20 more rolls and each roll has one piece that ends up being 25' The tubing is black and when you've done a few so are your hands ;o} The rolls are coiled like a new lawn hose. Pulling them out so you don't get kinks is kinda tricky, but good old Elder Olson puzzled it out and we had a really good system going in no time. Between phone calls he ended up finishing by himself while I answered calls. You will notice our voice mail messages have changed. "Golden Touch Massage" just wasn't cutting it here. ;o} although he's given a few neck and shoulder massages already. The word spreads faster here than at home. Wednesday the Meldrums told me to hurry, that there was a parade. It was awesome. They were honoring the vets and those that are serving now. The older veterans marched by and right in the middle was an older Navajo lady in traditional dress. I started crying and it makes me cry now as I picture her among all those vets marching silently by. There were 4 young women in uniform and they were in perfect step and dress. There were a lot of young men in fatigues, it was all so amazing to see how they were being honored by the people standing along the road. The moment still touches me very much. Elder Olson was out helping Desbah's daughter so he wasn't able to see it. People are checking out the roto tillers and getting their gardens ready for the drip system which will be passed out at the next demo. One young Navajo woman had been on the waiting list and came by with her brother hoping someone had dropped out.. I had been told to put her on and she was thrilled. She was dressed like a business woman, but pitched right in loading the steel posts and bagging sawdust. It sounds like she is a single mom with 2 kids. They live in a place called "Gap" which is 35 miles away. Elder Olson went out to help 2 women and they both rolled up their sleeves and took turns on the tillers. They didn't back away from helping with anything. Their fence was already up, not sure who put that up, but Sister Nez was helping with the other sister who had back surgery a couple of years ago. That sister helped too. I wish I had been there. One of us needs to stay at the apt in case someone needs to check out the tiller or get other materials. Some come after 9 P.M. so you are on call until about 10 just in case you have a late caller. Friday we went to an amazing place called Coal Mine Canyon about 18 miles from Tuba. You turn off on a dirt road which appears to go off into no where. Not very far down the dirt road you come to an awesome view of a mini version of the Grand Canyon. To say it was spectacular would not even come close to describing it. The general tourists who drive through this area do not even know about it, so very few people get to see it. I took pictures and hopefully they turned out and I will figure out how to put them on here. Keep your fingers crossed. ;o] Friday night we went to a Pow Wow where they had a huge group of individual dancers beginning at about age 3. They sign up in age catagories and judges decide who wins each event or dance. You refer to their beautiful clothing as "outfits" not costumes. They were beautiful. Many wore traditional hairstyles and very elaborate outfits. They never stop moving during the dance. Around the outside were six different groups who beat the drums and "sang" for each category of dancers. They were also judged. Girls in their outfits would come by selling raffle tickets to earn gas money to get them home. Some sold brownies and rice treats. One was raffling off a beaded purse. In the morning we went to the "Flea Market" everyone sells out of their car, truck, or van. Many sell jewelry that they make or beads for making Navajo jewelry. They also have a "food court" area where everything is cooked out in the open. It reminded me of the Lincoln Co Fair. Elder Olson was working on someone's garden, so I am taking him another time for lunch. The menu includes about 4-6 different ways of cooking mutton. The mutton and dumplings looked pretty good, but I think I will go for the ribs. They smelled wonderful. Yesterday and today we were able to watch Conference at the ward building. In the Relief Society room, it was broadcast in Navajo. How would you even begin to describe the power of the spirit that was there? Every talk was apparently something I needed to hear. Is there any doubt that we are serving where we are suppose to and helping members develop skills so that they can become self-reliant. We hope all of you will heed the counsel that's been given for years. Plant a garden or a patio garden if you don't have any room for a regular garden. Then share you zucchini recipes. ;o} Elder and Sister Olson